(Top; L-R) Jay Bhattacharya and Sumbul Desai, (Middle; L-R) Vas Narasimhan, Reshma Kewalramani, Samarth Kulkarni and Shiv Rao, (Bottom; L-R) Anish Bhatnagar, Ronita Nath, Suresh Ramalingam, and Vinod Balachandran. / TIME

The TIME100 Health list of 2025 highlights ten influential Indian-American healthcare experts shaping the future of global health by leading transformative work across biotechnology, digital health, global access, and public health policy. 

The list includes Jay Bhattacharya, Sumbul Desai, Vas Narasimhan, Reshma Kewalramani, Samarth Kulkarni, Shiv Rao, Anish Bhatnagar, Vinod Balachandran, Ronita Nath, and Suresh Ramalingam. 

Also read: TIME honors Anima Anandkumar and Arvind Krishna for AI contributions

Jay Bhattacharya

As the newly appointed Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bhattacharya is responsible for the allocation of a $35 billion fund annually for biomedical research. A vocal pandemic-era-critic, he is expected to influence NIH’s priorities with a focus on data transparency. His leadership marks a significant shift in U.S. health policy, emphasizing openness in scientific discourse. 

Sumbul Desai

Desai serves as vice president of Health at Apple, where she integrates technology and health. Collaborating with institutions like the American Heart Association and WHO, she utilizes data from Apple devices to enhance health monitoring and preventive care. “We want to make health approachable, not scary, and empower you with health information so you can be more proactive about staying healthy,” says Desai. 

Vas Narasimhan

As CEO of Novartis, Narasimhan has been recognized for accelerating change in global health. Under his leadership, Novartis focuses on innovative treatments and expanding access to medicine worldwide. More than 1 billion people in over 70 countries have received Novartis’ treatments for malaria largely at no profit to the company, Narasimhan says. Bringing his early-career visions of changemaking to fruition, he says, is “incredibly rewarding.”

Reshma Kewalramani

Kewalramani, is the CEO of a major U.S. biotech firm, Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Her journey from India to leading groundbreaking drug development exemplifies her dedication to science and medicine. “We only go after diseases where we understand the causal human biology,” she says. “We’re not interested in solving diseases in mice or rabbits.”

Samarth Kulkarni

As CEO of CRISPR Therapeutics, Kulkarni is pioneering gene-editing therapies for common diseases like diabetes and cancer. His work aims to make these treatments scalable and affordable. “We are moving to address common diseases like cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, oncology, and diabetes that are big killers,” says Kulkarni. 

Shiv Rao

Rao, a cardiologist and CEO of Abridge, addresses the administrative burdens in healthcare. His AI-driven solutions streamline documentation, allowing clinicians to focus more on patient care.  “Abridge unburdens clinicians from the clerical work that crushes their souls, so they can focus on the person in front of them,” says Rao. 

Anish Bhatnagar

As CEO of Soleno Therapeutics, Bhatnagar focuses on treatments for rare diseases like Prader-Willi syndrome. His work brings hope to patients with limited therapeutic options. “There appears to be, over time, a progressive improvement in hyperphagia, to the extent that these patients can live much more normal lives,” Bhatnagar says. 

Ronita Nath

Nath, vice president of research at The Trevor Project, conducts pivotal studies on LGBTQ+ youth mental health. Her research informs policies and interventions to prevent suicide among queer youth across the US. “My hope with this research is to show people from all backgrounds and beliefs that if you live in a state that has passed an anti-transgender law, youth in your home state are significantly more likely to take their own life. This is a scientific reality, and it is simply unacceptable,” she says. 

Vinod Balachandran

Balachandran, a surgical oncologist and director of the Olayan Center for Cancer Vaccines at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is developing a personalized pancreatic cancer vaccine. His innovative approach aims to harness the immune system to combat this aggressive cancer. “Vaccines for cancer have just been so long sought after and are perhaps one of the most significant challenges in modern medicine,” he says.

Suresh Ramalingam

Ramalingam, executive director of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University has presented groundbreaking results for a new lung cancer treatment. His work offers new hope for patients with advanced stages of the disease. 

The TIME100 Health list is curated by TIME’s health correspondents and editors, who consult global experts over months to identify 100 influential individuals shaping the present and future of global health.